From the dark they came, through gloom and rain a spark of hope emerged, from all corners they gathered united in truth.  It sounds like a scene from what Faisel calls return of the Jedi, but it was the IMPDA and a group of dealers descending on the headquarters of Ofcom in London early in the morning for probably the most important meeting the dealers have ever had.  It was at last a chance to put the record straight, and to give the regulator first hand the true reasons why cash-back started and why it continues today.

For reasons of confidentiality we cannot say in detail what was discussed but we did cover areas of competition, the networks, the consumer, and much more.  The meeting was a positive one and the regulator now has a better understanding of what dealers whether they are shop owners to just web based or call centres have to put up with and how they are not treated fairly, and the wish for a level playing field.

We left Ofcom after an extended meeting with positive attitudes on both sides, and our recommendations for change for the industry and the networks.  As we said in our press statement (viewable at www.impda.co.uk) The industry needs now more than ever to change, and the time has come for the networks to work with UK dealers and not against them, both in communication and in competition.

Ofcom and the IMPDA will be meeting again in the future for further meetings, all we can do is hope that the networks will agree to have meetings with us also.

The IMPDA still has a meeting with MP